Actions across europe in support of ahmed [multilingual]

30.Nov.99 - Today actions in support of Ahmed took place in diffrent cities across Europe. In spite of the different actions Ahmed who was arrested during a demonstration in the context of the noborder camp in strasbourg, was sentenced by a court in strasbourg to sentenced to 8 months with 5 months of parole. He was also fined about 700 euros [we hope to have a more detailed report from the trail available here soon].

Assembling in front of the Court of Grenoble, France

Today, on Wednesday , August 21, from 11 o'clock till 13 o'clock, about fifteen persons met on the place of the Court of Grenoble, to express their support for Ahmed and for all the accused people of the NoBorder of Strasbourg.
On a big banner in facade of the Court one could read: "Halte à toutes les répressions" (No more all the repressions); a table of press proposed different readings against the repression, for the abolition of prisons, in support for prisoners etc.; a dozen persons, dressed in magistrate and in policemen, distributed two pamphlets and discussed with the passers, the tourists, and the persons entrants and going out of the court.
They explained enthusiastically that they began, as regretted magistrate, as lawyers and as other civil servants of the security order, an unlimited and joyful strike, to celebrate their definitive break with an inequitable and obnoxious Justice, as well as with all other institutions which oppress in everyday life.
They also reminded that Ahmed passes in lawsuit in the afternoon, and that the other accused, while the NoBorder Camp, will follow the same way in some months. They evoked finally the international context of mobilization of this event, and explained succintement what is the NoBorder.

In the name of the network No Border, the collectives, the participating and united individuals, in Grenoble and somewhere else, we require Ahmed's immediate liberation and immediate stop of all the pursuits against the participants of NoBorder

No Border in exile, united Grenoblois-es.

London, England

20.8. Some people set up a french picnic at the French
Institute.They raised their wine glasses for a toast to freedom of
expression in France which was difficult because their mouths were gagged.
The real toast went to Ahmed and others who were charged during the
noborder camp and other global protests.

Athens 21.8

A poster is circulating in the city, and a solidarity action
is planned.

Clermont-Ferrand, 21.8

At their annual meeting in France, the Society of
Friends (Quakers)
held Ahmed in the Light for a few minutes of silent prayer and loving
support. Most friends found it incredible that someone could be held in
solitary confinement simply for his political ideas. Many of them were
particularly concerned with the unfair targeting of muslims and people of
Arab descent.

update: this action has just been awarded the most creative one of the whole noborder camp by an internationl jury

Barcelona, 21.8.

15 people assembled in front of the French consulate in
solidarity with Ahmed.

Berlin, 15.8

About 40 people held a solidarity rally for Ahmed in front of
the French embassy.
They protested against his arrest and trial. The cops had a massive
presence and their controls were a bit annoying, but a part from that they
kept quiet. Speeches raised awareness of colonial justice and also pointed
to people charged at other global protests, esp. Goeteborg

Paris, 21.8

During an assembly in front of the Palais de Justice, les
Sans-Papiers of the Cathedral of Saint-Denis expressed their support for
Ahmed and all charged noborder activists.

Reims, 21.8

A demonstration took place in front of the sous-préfecture to
protest against police exaggerations.

Rennes, 21.8

A leaflet, titled 'to encarcerate means to rule better' was
distributed at the market.

Strasbourg, 20.8

The Collective to Support Ahmed did an action to brighten
up prison life at the Elsau jail. They launched red balloons, attached
flags denounced prisons and the conditions inside. The action let Ahmed
know, the day before his trial, that the police's attempt to criminalize
him will not go unnoticed.

Strasbourg, 21.8

A public press conference was held at the quai in front
of Tribunal de Strasbourg just before the trial to support the struggle
against criminalisation of activists. The colourful assembly was masqued
with pretty 'cagoules' and flowers, and carried cardboard guns. A silent
event accompanied by accordeon music and jugglers. Many journalists were
present.

Solidarity action in Vienna, Austria

English summary:About 30 people demonstrated in front of the
French embassy to show solidarity with Ahmed Menguini, one day
before his trial at the court in Strasbourg. Three people tried to enter
the embassy to demand the immediate release of Ahmed, but that did not
work. The demonstration lasted for two hours.

Rassemblement de soutien à Ahmed à Dijon, France

English summary:Responding to the appeal of the noborder network, an assembly of 20 decorated the 'cite judicaire' with banners, in solidarity with
political prisoners and for free movement. A cage was set up, with a person
inside being harrassed by a guardian to represent the enclosure, the
isolation and the repression of which Ahmed has been a victim since his
arrest. The street was temporarily blocked and imaginative leaflets were
distributed.